Railway signal system.



P. 1. S|MMEN.-

RAILWAY SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1913.

1,239,049. Patented Sept. 4, 191?.

nuuillwll Atfest: (PM Inventor:

45 i 'lhe vehicle carries a yielding, shoe 12 a laptmay in: given at will to moving vehicles PAUL J. SIMM EN, 01Ev INPIANAI OLIS, INDIANA.

RAILWAY smnn. SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

Application filed September 26, 1813. Serial No. 791,990.

To all whomit may concern:

citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway {51gnal Systems, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to signals for moving vehicles adapted to advise the operator whether conditions for proceeding indicate safety. danger, or the necessity for caution.

The ohjcct of the invention is to provide a signal system whereby different signals In the preferred form of the invention, three signals a ll. used. 'l'hcsc are differently colored lights located in the operato-fs cab; for instance, the clear, the danger, and the caution signal are green, red, and yellow lights respectively; also a clear signal intended for one \chiulc produces a different signal, such as ii cautionary signal, is received by another. A particularly advantageous instance for the tipplicution of such a system is in cases where it is desired that one vehicle should follow closely behind another on the same track, in which case the first vehicle may be given a clear nal and the second a caution signal. Anot er such instance is where a s ngle track road, 15 for traffic in both directions, and -I:lear $2.15;-

nals intended for vehicles going in Zone 1- reel ion produce caution signals received by vehicles going n the oppositeih rection.

i The lIlUClltllllSXltlH applicable fiiiilusc in the system disclosed in (to-pending.E pplication, Serial No. 791,451, filed September 24, 11113, v in the drawings there is shown ii preferred einl'mdinn'nt ol' the invention, parts being shown diagl'alnmatii'ally. i I

In the drawings, l l indicates the axle of a vehicle provided with wheelstraveling on rails 11 which may he suitably grounded.

ed to contact with a signal rail 13 against the. tension of a sprin; H which presses it normally into i-iwani-nwnt with an arm 15' also carried by tinrehivle. 'llnl'i. iil'e a iuunher of such signal rails arranged at suitable intervals along the way, and the shoe is lifted when in contact therewith and out of} contact with the arm 15. These rails may be either electrically dei neigized or energized positively or negativel with respect to the track rails 11 at will y means of a, switch 16 movable into or out of engagement with either of the contact members 17 and 18 of two batteries 19 and 2D, the other terminals of which are suitably grounded.

The vehicle also carries an electro-ma at indicated at which has one and O its winding connected by a Wire 2410 the shoe 12, and the other and thereof grounded, for instance, by a wire 25 connected to the axle 10. The magnet 23 has a pirated nonpolarizcd armature 26 and apivoted polarized arinuture illx The position of the armature 2G depends wholly upon whether or not the electro-magnet 23 is energized regardless of the direction of the flow, of the current in its windings, suchrarn ature'rbewhen the curiient flon' s inene direction an to another position, ishown in dotted line, when the current flows in'the opposite direction, remaining in either position in which it happens to be wl enthe niagnet'hecomes denergized, It: cnrries a pair of 0p- ]N ll-lltlbly'flflilll tnl arms one provided with lingers 31 an 31(1 which respectively ongage a contact 33 when the iirn 'at'ure 27 is in its full line iiiuldotted line positions, and the other proi'ided with a pair: of fingers .32 and 320 which engage contacts: 31' and 35 rvspectiflilvlwlieu such armature is in its full l ne position and contats 35 and 36 respectively when it is in its dotterllme posi- .tl011.l':1l(fll contact finger 31 tahd 31.i8

eomiecteil' toone terminal of ii rleii signal lamp 3| CtiHYt'litmlifllly colored green or Will! one terminal oi it caution signal lamp in) conventionally colored yellow, throu h a reversing switch 43 whereby either ii get may he connected to either lainp. The contact 30 is connected to one terminal of a danger lamp 38 conventionally colored red. The other terminal of .each of these 1041238 37, 38, and 39 is connected to the wire 5. The fingers 320 and 32 are connects respectivcly to the non-polarized armature 26 and to the wire 25 by conductors 251 and 250. The contacts 34 and 36 are connected in common to one side of a local battery 51 conveniently carried on the vehicle, the other side of which battery is connected to the contact 35. The contacts 28 and 3B are connected together by a wire/14. The contact 29 is connected to the arm 15' by a wire 45 preferably including the coil of an electro-magnet 46 having an armature 47 which is drawn away from the magnet by a spring 48 and taps a bell 49 when the magnet becomes denergized. The signal lamps'tl'i', 88 and 39 are conveniently located in the operators cab and within the usual range of vision.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the signal rail 13 is negatively energized with respect to the tl;fi0k rails 11, by reason of the fact that the switch 16 is in engagement with the'inember 17 when the vehicle reaches this rail 13, its shoe 12 is lifted to the position shown in the drawing and a current passes from the positive side of the battery 19 through the earth and the rail 11 to the axle 10, thence through the wire 25, the magnet 23, and

wire-2.4, the shoe 12, the rail 13', the switch -16, and the member 17 to the negative side 7. u 1e, an

-;the wires 250 and 25,,tl1e magn of the battery, 19. The resultant energization of the magnet 23 lifts the armature 26 to its full line position (if it is not already lifted) and moves the armature 27 to its -full line position (if it is not already in such position). The switch 43 being in the position shown in the drawing a current passes from the positive side of the battery 51 through the contact 35, the finger 32, the wires 250 and 25, the green lamp 87, one arm of the switch 43,- the finger 310, the contact. 33., the wire 44, the: contact 28,- the armature 26,-,thc finger 320, and the contact 34 to the negative side of the battery 51, and theilcrup is lightedandrgives a clear signal gtoroperator which light, or s1 nal hontinuesaiter the vehicle passes beyonj the d the shoe 12' drops and engages the arm 15,- because the armatures 26 and 27 are held in their positions by a continuheenergization of the magnet 23, with the same polarity as before by a current from .tliebattcry 51, which current passes from thfi positive; gi det gf pinch, big; ,t iron h, t e contac. o, s nger wry g i et 23, the wirc24, the shoe 12, the arm 15','the magnet 46.- tlie wire the contact 29, the armature 26; the finger 320, and the contact 34 'to the negative do of the battery 50. In other wqrds alt iiugih dhe impulse through tlie signal mile 181:; intermittent as the are arranged in succession along the tree the indication of the, clear signal is continuous.

If the signal rail is denergized when the shoe 12 passes over it, because for instance the switch 16 is in its middle position, there results a de'einergization of the ma et 23, for the local circuitjhrough the Qattery 51 is broken by the separation of the shoe 1.2 from the'arin 15 and there is no current to take its place from either the battery 19 or 20. Consequently the armature 26 dro s to the position shown in dotted line in tiie drawin and closes a circuit from the positive she of the battery 51, through the contact 35, the fin er 32, the wires 250 and 25, the lamp 38, the contact 30,, the armature 26 in its lower position, the finger 320, and the contact 34 to the negative side of the battery 51, and thelamp 38 glows and displays a red light on seeing which the operator should stop the vehicle and take such steps as are necessary for protection. Furthermore his attention is called to the possibility of a change in signulswhen the signal rail is reached by the shoe 12 by the sounding of the bell 49 upon the dener 'zation of the magnet 46 which results rom the separation of the shoe 12 from the arm 15. If the vehicle does not stop with the shoe 12 on the rail 13, but proceeds beyond such rail, the rengagement of'the shoe 12 with the arm 15 does not reestablish the local circuit from the'magnet 23, because such circuit is broken by the disengagement of the contact 29 and armature 26 and the latter remains in engagement with the contact 30. Therefore the danger signalalso persists after the passage of the vehicle beyond the denergized rail 13. In other words in this case also there is a continuous signal indication from an intermittent irnpulse.

If the rail 13 is positively energized with respect to the track rails 11, by reason of the fact that the switch 16 1s in engagement with the member18, the contact of the shoe 12 with thei'uil 13 closes a circu t from the positive side of the battery 20 through the member 18, the switch 16, the rail 13, the sl-ioe 12,the wire 24, the magnet 23, the wire 25, the axle 10, and'the grounded track rails 11 to the negative side of the battery '20.

The resultant energizution of the magnet 23 is in the reverse direction from thutproduced when'the rail-13 was negatively energized, and lifts or holds lifted the armature 26 and moves the armature 27 to the ,posi ,tion shown in dotted outline in the'drawing, brealts tlie circuit' for the green lumps already described, and establishes a circuit for thcycllow lump 39, which circuit is froin thepositive side of the battery 51 through the contact 35, the finger 320 (for the armnture 27 has, moved! to its dotted line posilion), the conductor 251, the armature 26, the contact 28, the wire ll, the contact 33, the comact linger one arm ol' the switch i i. the yellow lamp 5!), the wire :25, the finger 5 213, and the contact 256 to the negative side of the battery 531. Thus with the switch 43".

in the position shown, the positive energizetion of the rail 13 produces a cantion signal, upon receiving which, to which his attcntion is also called by the tapping of the hell if) the o u-rator should stop the vehicle and take such steps in; are necessary. However if he dot-snot stop it, but proceeds beyond the rail 13, the shoe 1% reiingages the arm 5 15 and passes out of cage ement with the rail 13 which reiistablishcs t 1e circuit for the magnet 23, but with the current flowing in the reverse direction from that already dcs ribed. or in the same direction as that from 29 the positively energized rail 13. Such circult is from the positive side of the battery 51 through the contact 35, the finger 320, the armature 26, the contact 251, the wire '45, the magnet 46, the arm 15, the shoe 114, the wire 24, the magnet 28, the wire 1th the linger -52, and the contact 36 to tin: negative side of the battery 51. Consequently, the at-matures 26 and 27 remain in-thcir positions and the circuit for the yellow Jump is no maintained, and the caution signal persists after the vehicle has passed the positively t ergizi-(l rail 13. So that in this case also there is a continuous signal indication with an intermittent impulse.

According to the foregoing when the switch 43 is in one'imsition-the ncghtive em-rgizatiou of the signal rail 13 produces a green or clear signal,'the positive energization of the signal rail, in, yellow or caution 40 signal and the dci ncrgization of the signal rail a ["(l or danger signal. lly tin-owing the switch 43 to its other positionytln-i conncctions of the greenihid yellow lamps 37 and 59 are interchanged, so that the positive 4-5 enrrgization of the signal rail 13 produces a.-

grei-n or clear signal, the negative (aim-gimtion of such rail a yellow or caution signal, and the deiinm'gizatimi of the signal rail 'a. red or danger signal. It should also lie-noted 50 that the iinpnlsetothe signal rail from the switch 16 is over a single wirc, but that by varying the polarity of the current passing U\'('l' such wire the three functions of displ-ayingr ear, caution and danger signals are accomplished, a result which has lu-rw ioforc lawn-possible only by the use of three wires. What I claim is: 1. A signalsystem for a vehicle moving 60 ohm "a tracltway, comprising three signals on t to vehicle, two i-lcclro-magnetically opfllatialdeviccs, one being polarized. adapted ,yjpintly to control said signals. and means -=i i the tracltw yalertii killy -ni-rgizable incrgiyabl to control said )levicc',

and an tilltlllJlu signal nhir-h is adapted to e automatically actuated la-n the which:

passes the means along ilutrai-luva to give warning of a pos ibhchange from one ol said signals to another of said signals.

'2; A signal system lot a whichmoving along a'trackway, comprising tlilt't' signals on the vehicle, two clccti'olnagIn-ticall) operated devices, one being polarized, adapted jointly to control said signals, and means along the trackway electrically -ncrgizablc adapted to controlsairl devices and an audible signal ada ited to be automatically actuated when sue polarity is varied.

3. A signal system for a vehicle-moving along a trackway, comprising three signals on the vehicle, two electI'o-n'n gncticall v operated devices, one being polarized, adapted jointly to ontrol said signals, means along the trackway energizahle either positively 35 or negatively and also deiincrgiaable to control said electro-magnctically operated devices, and an audible signal which is adapted to be automatically actuated when the vehicle passes said means along the trackway to give warning ol a possible change from one of said signals.

4. A signal system for a vehicle moving along a trackway, comprising three signals on the vehiclc,'two electro magnetically operated devices, one being polarized, adapted jointly to control said signals, means along the trackway cncrgizable either positive] y or negatively and also deiSnergizable to control said elcctro-niagnetically operated devices, and an audible signal which is adapted to be automatically actuated when the vehicle passes said means along the trackway and give warning of a possible change to one of said signals.

5. A railway signal system comprising trackside contact mechanism, means for energizing the same and varying its polarit three signals carried by a vehicle adapted 0 move on the trackway, means for operating them, including an electro-magnct, which automatically causes the operation of one of the signals when the traekside mechanism carries a positive current, of another of them yvhcn itcarrics a. negative current and of 1 5 the third of them when it is deii n'ergized, in

{combination with means for operating a fourth signal. to a a possihlerhange from one of the three signals. a

(S. A railway signal system comprising trarhside contact mechanism, means for energizing the same and varying its p'olarity three signals carried by a vehicle adapted to move on the trnckway, means for opcrating them, including an electro-magnet, and mechanism associated with said electromagnct for automatically causing the operation of one of the signals when the tracksiile nwbhariun carries a positive current,

automatically give warning or to any one automatically energized T adapted to produce of another of'them when it carries a negative current and of the third of them when it is deenergized, in combination with an automatieally operated signal of a difierent character which warns of a possible chan e in the operation of any of the other sign i s. .7. A signal system for a vehiclemovmg along a trackway, comprising a clear signal, a caution signa, and 'a danger signal all carried by the vehicle, electro-magnetmally operated means adapted to reduce the operation of the clear signal w en energized in one direction, the operation of the caution signal when energized in the other direction, and the operation of the danger signal when deenergized, and means located along the trackway for controlling the energization and denergization and the direction of energization of said electroanagnctically operated means, and an audible signal which 18 operated when the' vehicle passes said means along the trackway to give warning of theoperation of the danger signal.

8. A signal system for a vehicle moving along a trackway, comprising three visual signals, viz: a clear signal, a caution signal, and a danger signal all carried by the vehiole, eloctro-inagnctically operated means adapted to produce the operation of the clear signal when energized in one direction, oration/of the caution signal when energized in the other direction, and the operation energized, and means located along 'the trackway for controlling the energization and 'deiinergization and the direction of energization of said electro-magnetically operated means, and an audible signal adapted to be automatically sounded as a mere incident of the actuation of the danger signal.

9. A signal along a trackway,

system fora vehicle. movin comprising three visua signals iz'z'a clear signal, a caution signal, and a. danger signal all carried bv the vehicle, .elertro-magnetically operated means the operation of the clear signal when energized in one direction, the operation of the caution si al when in. the other directio and the operation of the danger signal when deiinerand. means located along the trackway'for controlling the energization antideenergization and the direction of energizetion of said elcctro-magnetically operated means, and an audible signaladapted to be automatically sounded as a mere incident of thediscontinuance of the clear signal.

,10. Aslgnal system for a vehicle-moving along a trackway, comprising a clear signal,

a caution signal, and a danger signal all carried by the vehicle, electro-magnetically operated means adapted to produce the operation of of the danger signal Whendethe clearsign at when energized in one direction, the operation of the caution signal when energize in the other direction, and the operation of the danger signal when doenergized, and means located along the trackway for controlling the. energization and the direction of energization .of said electro-magnetically operated means, and an audible signal which is operetcdwhen the vehicle asses said means alon the trackway an operation of the clear signal is discontinued.

11. A signal system, for railways, comprising an electro-magnet, a polarized arm'ature and a non-polarized armature therefor, two vehicle carried signals made operative when with the non polarized armatiire in one position and the'polarizod armature is in its two positions respectively. a third vehicle carried signal made operative when the non-polarized armature is in its other position and means along the trackway,for controlling the energization and di nergization and the direction of the energization of the magnet, a double throw switch which in its two positions respectively in rchanges the relation between the first two signals and the direction of 'energization of the magnet, a sourceol' electric energy for maintaining the energization of said magnet after the means along the trackway bythe ear, and means for reversing the connections of'said source. of energy to the magnet by the operation of the polarized armature. Y

l2. A signal system for railways, comprising an electro-magnet, aipolarized armature and a non-polarized armature therefor, two which; carried signals which are made oper- ,alive when with the non-polarized armature in one position the polarized armature is in its two positions respectively, a third vehicle carried signal which is made operative when said non-polarized armature is in its other position, means along the trackway for controlling theenergization and defines gization and the direction of the energizaas. been passed 395 tion of the armaturehctuating:means, and it two'vehiclecarried si'gnalsmhich are made operative when with the non-polarized a'rmature in'o'ne position the polarized armature isin itstwo positions respectively,- a third vehicle carried signal which is mad operative when said non-polarized armature is in its other position, means along the trackway for controlling the energization' \nd deinergization' the energization of means and a the armature-actuating and the direetitonof double throw switch which in 1 matures cont it?! We positions respectively interbcanges the relation between t e first two signals and the directionof energization of the mag'nct', and a source of electric energy for maintainmg the energlzation of said magnet after the means along the trackway has been passed by the car i I v 14. A signal system 301' a vehicle moving along a trackway, comprising three signals on the vehicle an olectro-magnet, two armatures controlledtherebv, one being polarized, means including the armatures for ointly controlling said signals, whereby one or the other of said signals is always displayed on. the vehicle, in combination with means alon the trackway electrically energizable an decnergizable to control the magnet.

15. A signal system fora vehicle moving alo atrackway, comprising three signals on t e vehicle an electrmmagnet, two ar-,

lled thereby, one being polarized, means includin thenrmaturcs for .iointly controlling sai signals, whereby one or the other of said signals isalways dis played on the vehicle, in combination with means along the trackway electrically energizable, adapted to control said magnet,and means for varying its polarity.

1 6. A signalsystem for a vehicle moving along a trackway, comprising three signals on the vehicle, an electro-magnet, two armatures controlled thereby, one being polarized, means including the armatures for jointly controlling said signals, whereby one or the other of said signals is always dis-f played on the vehicle, in combination with means along the trackway electrically energizable, adapted to control said ma a at, and means for varying its polarity, inc uding a single wire leading to means along the track, two sources of electrical energy alon'g the track, and a switch adapted toconnect the wire to eithersource.

17. The combination. with a vehicle movable along a trackway, of a .controlling a vehicle circuit, electro-magnetic means in said circuit, 'an armature controlled by said electro-magnetic means and controllin the said vehicle circuit, means intermittent y intsrrupting the circuit as the car moves along the traclrway' to permit the deenergization of said circuit, means along the trackway for efiecting a varied energization of the circuit when so interrupted or leaving it deener zed, and signaling devices controlled by t c said vehicle circuit and adapted tov be selectively operated by the character of the energization, or by the deenergization of the circuit when so interru ted.

18: The combination wi ble along a trackway, of aoontrolhng YBhlglQ circuit, electromagnetic means in said ona vehicle mova cuit, ajharmaturo mstmlled by said electromagnetic means and hontrollin the vehicle f circuit, means for-intermittent y interrupt ing the circuit as the car moves along the traclrway to permit the deia'nergization of said circuit, means along the trackway for causin it current of either-polarity to 9 ss throng the circuit when so broken or For leaving it deenergized, three electrically operated devices, and means controlled by said circuit for effecting theoperation of one devices; on a current of one polarity iazpassed th'i ugh saisiglrcuit, for effecting the" operation of a nd device when a current of an opposite polarity is passed through said circuit, and for effecting the operation of the third device when the cirevil; is diinergized.

19. The combination with a vehicle movable alongatrackway, of a controlling vehicle circuit, electro-magnetic means in said city cuit, an annat e controlled by said magneticmea and controllin the vehicle; circuit, meansfor intermittent y lotion-11%;? ing'the circuit as the car moves along t trackway to permit the deiinergization 01s., said circuit, means alon the trackway M for causing a current 0 either polarity to be passed through the circuit when so interrupted or for leaving it deem er three electrically operated devices,s.,,,, an circuits for the devices controlled byflift the aforesaid armature to selectively operate 1 the same according to the polarity of the current passed through the vehicle circuit or the lack of a current therein. L

20. The combination with a. vehicle mova-V 0G ble alongatrackway, of a controlling vehicle circuit, electromagnetic means in said cit cuit, a neutral armature controlled by said electro-magnetic means and controlling the vehicle circuit, a polarized armature con- 7 6: trolled by said electro-magnetic meanspl f; means for intermittently interrupting the vehicle circuit as the car moves along, the traclrway to permit the denergization of said circuit, means along the track- 1" way for causing a current of either polar ity to pass through the circuit when so interrupted or for leaving it deenergized, three electrically operated devices,'and cm cuits for the devices, two of said last men: l

. PAUL J. SIMMEN.

my signature ltll" witnesses:

R. H. Moons, Gammon Gusoa'm 

